Cedar Rapids Kernels lose again, Manager Jake Mauer ejected again

CEDAR RAPIDS — Jake Mauer has managed just shy of five innings the past two games. The ejections are racking up, the fines that go with the ejections are racking up.

The losses are racking up, too.

It's five in a row after Monday night's 5-1 defeat to Burlington at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Talk about picking the exact wrong time to go into a tailspin.

The Kernels have looked strong most of the first half of the season as they attempt to secure a Midwest League playoff berth. But they suddenly are 2 1/2 games behind first-place Peoria in the Western Division and two behind Clinton, with six first-half games remaining.

The top two clubs in each division in each half make it to the postseason.

'We're not pitching the way we can, we're not hitting the way we can,' Mauer said. 'When both of those things happen at the same time, this is where you're at. Losing five in a row.'

Mauer was tossed in the bottom of the third inning by home plate umpire Tom Hanahan for arguing after C.R.'s Sean Miller was called out for being out of the batter's box when he was nicked by a foul ball on a bunt attempt. The Kernels had two on and none out at the time.

In a loss Sunday to Peoria, the skipper was ejected in the top of the second inning after a ball hit by one of his players was ruled a catch in the outfield. Mauer felt the ball was trapped.

'You hope that guys respond,' he said. 'You try and fight for them a little bit, but when you don't get a response, it's frustrating. It's frustrating all the way around.'

MWL All-Star Sam Clay (4-3) walked the first Burlington batter of the game, hit the next one, then gave up a two-run double to Brendon Sanger that put his team in an immediate hole. The Kernels barely dented Burlington starting pitcher Joe Gatto, who came in with a 2-7 record and unsightly 7.05 earned run average.

They stranded seven guys on base in Gatto's five innings, failing to score in the third despite having runners on second and third with one out and failing to score in the fourth despite having them on first and third with none out.

'The at-bats are not competitive,' Mauer said. 'You get to a point where you try to do too much, guys get too amped up ... They put too much pressure on themselves. Too excited. Their thought process maybe gets out of whack. Go too fast instead of just doing what you can do.'

Thirteen of the final 14 Kernels hitters were retired, with a two-out walk in the ninth by newcomer Chris Ibarra the exception. He officially joined the club Sunday after his contract was purchased by the parent Minnesota Twins from Lincoln of the independent American Association.

Ibarra was in the original starting lineup last Thursday already, but it took four days for him to be cleared to play because of paperwork. Just the way things are going around here.

The teams play again Tuesday night at 6:35.

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